WIX problems and civility

[RyanShort1]

So far this thread has focused on screen names as a means to improve civility. Perhaps Scott might consider reevaluating enforcement standards for poster misconduct and direct mods to be quicker to intervene or lock threads and deal with offenders swiftly and aggressively. The current forum rules apparently aren't enough to deter the flamin' and misbehavin'. This is a great forum, but lately there's been too much mudslinging and nitpicking and I'm convinced it's keeping a lot of interesting posters on the sidelines. I want to hear more from folks on the WIX sidelines who are mixing it up with warbirds--operators, historians, photographers, writers, maintainers, restorers, owners. We have folks of those persuasions posting now, but I'm certain we could have so much more if enforcement was ratcheted up and b.s. was smacked down swiftly and decisively. I'm a warbird owner but also an armchair history buff and aviation fanatic so getting all these diverse perspectives is what I love about this forum. I'm all for vigorous discussion and disagreements, but the moment a thread degenerates into incivility, politics, religion, name-calling, etc., mods need to quickly and aggressively lock it down, delete the thread, sanction the offender and ban them if they can't play nice. I see some merit to using real names, but the negatives outweigh the positives. IMHO stricter enforcement by mods would go a long way to improving the environment here.

Exactly! As I stated before, where there is no sanction. there is no law. If we want to reduce the personal attacks, etc... then it has to be enforced.

Ryan

[Scott Rose]

I believe that quite a few good points have been made in this thread and I find them all very enlightening. As you have undoubtedly realized it has been a struggle for several years now to regulate "atmosphere" of WIX. As any organization grows it undergoes growing pains logistically and with the shear number of individuals involved. It has grown beyond the ability of a single person to regulate and it also requires stricter adherence to rules and guidelines. I will be working on a stronger method of patrolling the threads and enforcing the rules. I would welcome suggestions. Here is what I plan to do in the next week or so.
- Recruit more moderators to bring the total to ten.
If your interested send me a PM. The pay sucks (you will get a WIX sticker, and WIX merch at my cost if you want it) and more than likely you will be horribly abused by people opposed to authority. But if you want to help the community then let me know. There will be a couple of requirements however. You will have to have been a WIX member for at least a year and have skype (skype is free so it should be a huge burden, if it is we can use land lines). The skype is so that I can talk with mods directly and so we can periodically discuss problems that may occur, either one on one or as a group. If I have not met you IRL we will conduct a skype/land line interview so I can get to know you. You will get a @warbirdinformationexchange.org e-mail address with either an actual mailbox or a forward to your existing e-mail address, your choice.

- Create the senior moderator position
These positions will be created as needed and will be offered to the existing moderators first, if they want it. The senior mods will be the go to people for the moderators and for people that have a dispute with a moderators actions.

- Develop a structured procedure for mods to use when they enforce the rules
This will give the mods a better idea of what constitutes a violation and what to do about it.

- Create a more explicit penalty structure
Make the banning and suspension penalties more transparent and explain what will initiate them.


I do want to say that I hate that this is necessary but I do understand that it is. It is currently beyond my ability to deal with on my own since for at least 4 days out of the week my entire internet experience is on a crap computer on an overtaxed network. I usually can't get on more that once a day while I eat lunch. So I do need some help. But the biggest help I can get is for everyone to think about what they say before they hit the submit button and try, try to act like the ladies and gentlemen that I know you are and it has been my privilege to know for the last 10 years.

Okay, back to vaporizing stuff with lasers...

[dred]

One of the boards I frequent uses one collective "Moderator" ID instead of the individual moderators' personal IDs when conducting board business. That seems to allow the moderators to function as regular members when desired, as well as shielding them from unhappy individuals. Might be helpful here.

[Scott Rose]

One of the boards I frequent uses one collective "Moderator" ID instead of the individual moderators' personal IDs when conducting board business. That seems to allow the moderators to function as regular members when desired, as well as shielding them from unhappy individuals. Might be helpful here.

That's an excellent idea. Thanks.

[Russ Blow]

I never really thought not to post my name here. I would never consider saying anything here to someone that I would not say to them if we were standing together in person.

I am still fairly new on here and as such I do a lot of reading and learning. And do occasionally post if I want to know something or think I have something to contribute.

All in all WIX is no worse than most other sites I am on. Anytime you have people with a passion for a subject and two different opinions you will have conflict. Such is life.

[Jack Cook]

Okay, back to vaporizing stuff with lasers...

Scott, just skip the other stuff and just go to this step!!
I'd volunteer to help I guess......
Never
Again
Volunteer
Yourself

[Rick65]

Civility would be nice, though overall this site is still far better than others that I visit.
My aged mother always told me that the written word was more powerful than the spoken one and you should be even more careful about what you write than what you say. This value doesn't seem to apply in the internet but it should.

Is there any mechanism for reporting abusive or inappropriate posts? (apart from a PM to a Moderator).
Anything that can reduce the delay in the Moderators (who can't be on the site all the time) becoming aware of a developing issue or a thread gone wrong would help.

I have been reading WIX for longer than I have been registered and my perception is that most problems arise when posts don't include information (preferably related to Warbirds) but are mainly opinion. I come to WIX for information from others (most of you) who know more than me.
I know that the distinction between the information and opinion is a fine line and that an informed opinion is valuable but posts should try to deal with information or fact as much as possible.

[m charters]

Jack for president!.......but seriously, I don't usually wade into politics, but this is a great site to catch up on the facts, see history, see what new warbirds are happening, etc, etc, etc....but simply as has been stated, common courtesy, treat people with respect and keep it light and fun.

And remember, you don't have to be crazy to be in aviation, but it sure helps!

[michaelharadon]

A couple of years ago there was a similar kind of blow up and Mgawa posted, "Talk to each other like gentlemen." Good advice then. Good advice today.

[Paul Krumrei]

Can we get back to talking about airplanes now?

[tom d. friedman]

i have never had anything to hide, never will either. i'll take my lumps if i screw up, which has been plenty, no ego involved. i don't need a monicker or alias to hide behind. some hate me here, some like me. plain & simple. however......... please don't let me know..... as ignorance is bliss!! i learn from this site daily after near 40 years of interest in the topic. i'm far from being crowned as the grand poobah!!

[SPANNERmkV]

Sometimes I wonder if it's fluoride in the water?
Or did their parents not beat on them enough as kids?
People sure seem thin skinned these days.

I mean, as long as some sunny beach doesn't go off and have a "Tell me about your mother Leon" moment I am just not that diverted from my love of warbirds, warboats, country, Mom, apple pie... etc.

It just doesn't seem worth getting that bent out of shape over.

SPANNER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49zqV9tj ... re=related

[Franklin]

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